Can someone explain to me why these are a good idea. I have seen the prices on these Window 8 hybrids and they are not cheap. EG A Toshiba 12.5 hybrid $2399.00. A Sony 11.6 hybrid $1999. For that price i can get a good notebook and a top end tablet for a lot less. What is the attraction?

Seriously, it beats me. The best example so far has been the Transformer running Android, around $800 odd. From what I have read, including on here, it is a fine device but it isn't a game changer and it has been around a while.

I'm unsure as to why the 'powers that be' keep pushing high end form factors when the big game changers over the last couple of years have been the Kindle Fire and the Nexus 7, rather than Ultrabooks or any of the other high end lines.

A Windows 8 'tablet'/convertible is essentially a full laptop, with a touchscreen, in a small form factor.

It's x86, anything up to an i7. From a technical viewpoint it is incredible, but also entirely understandable why it is so expensive - it can't be easy cramming that much tech into such a small package.

From a value perspective you have high performance, flexible hardware in a one very small package. You can plug in a keyboard/use the built in one, plug it into a screen, use peripherals and most of all use whatever software you already have. It will log on to a domain.

An iPad won't do that, a Nexus won't do that.

Unfortunately, as you said, it is entirely possible to buy both a nice notebook (which replaces 95% of the utility) along with a tablet for less than the price of a single convertible. The only thing you lose is you now have to carry two boxes around, which for some people is probably a plus.

So yeah - they are great devices, shame about the price.

Twitter »

Follow us to receive Twitter updates when new discussions are posted in our forums: